Our Aim

Ren Shin Kan aims to teach traditional Aikido as instructed by the Aikikai Foundation in Japan.You can read more about the history of Ren Shin Kan in the Club History section.

What is Aikido?

Aikido is a Japanese martial art based on the principles of movement and redirection created by during the 1920's by Morihei Ueshiba. The aim is blend with and move around strikes to create openings for technique rather than interrupting them and creating hard contact which can lead to confrontation favouring the stronger opponent.

The key points we teach are:

Moving around an advancing opponent

Blending with opponents attacks

Redirection of your opponent

The attacks that we train from in Aikido begin at a basic level with grabs, taking the wrist and moving up to strikes and weapon based attacks.

It is important to note that as this is a traditional marital art it therefore uses traditional attacks, some of which may not be considered practical in a modern day environment. That being said we do try to teach and explain the practicalities in the techniques we teach and why we teach them.

Who are the Aikikai Foundation

The Aikikai Foundation is the parent organisation for the development and popularisation of Aikido throughout the world. While not the only they are the original organisation headed by the dōshu, currently Moriteru Ueshiba the grandson of the founder.

Who are the uka

The United Kingdom Aikikai is the parent organisation for a large groups of clubs across England that maintains a close affiliation with the Aikikai Foundation in Japan. This link facilitates the ongoing technical guidance we receive via instructors visiting from the headquarters in Tokyo, and ratifies all grades awarded at shodan (1st Dan) and above. You can learn more about them here.

Who are the JAC

The Joint Aikikai Coucil is a non-profit making umbrella organisation dedicated to the promotion of Aikikai Foundation aikido in the UK consisting of the following member associations: